My pg is clased as medium risk as my sister was born with a heart defect. Im under consultant care but havnt seen him yet. Just wondering if this means I wouldnt be allowed a homebirth? Im seeing the Dr next week but too impaitent to wait! haha.

Im not sure Steph. I guess it depends on how they classify you to be medium risk. I presume your sister was born with a heart defect many years ago, and that technology has advanced enough to know more what's going on with your baby now?
When you see your consultant I would ask exactly what the risks are and how much of a risk is there. Then if possible to have a home birth, just consider all your backup plans as part of your birth plan, should you need to use them. What will be made available to you at your home birth for an emergency - specifically a heart defect in your bub - and how long it will take you to get to the hospital etc.

If a home birth is what you want, and the risk is low enough for your consultant to agree to you having one, I hope you get it! My hubby and I have decided on one, with a water birth, and we are so relaxed and excited about it at the same time. It just feels so right. Of course its a personal choice and not one that would suit everyone.

xx

Thanks Sim75,

She is 9 now, so not too long ago. I dont really think there is much risk as my other brother and sisters are fine, but midwife refered me just incase. Ill have to see what he says, i hope i have the option of a home birth. really want a water birth but hospital doesnt have any birthing pools!

I would think it would depend what the heart problem was and if it could be picked up with a scan? It might also be you have no higher risk than anyone else (it might not run in familys) my neice was born with a heart problem but i was told i had no worries as it was "just one of those things" even my sil was told her next pregnancy had no higher risk.

See the doc tell him you really want a homebirth and see what he says. but remember they are usally against homebirths even if there is no good reason.
xx

things may have changed since i had my 2, but i am at risk of carrying a baby with Spina Bifida as my maternal grandmother gave birth to a child who had it, which automatically makes me more at risk, but when i was pg they gave me extra special attention at my 20 week scan, it was a very intensive scan, simply because they needed to check the whole of the spine etc, and i think i was in there about 45 minutes, however as everything else in my pregnancies were low risk, other than spd with my second, no high blood pressure, etc I was still offered home deliveries with both of my children, not just offered but encouraged to (didn't though for various other reasons), maybe it will be the same for you, just extra time and attention with the scans etc, and if everything comes up fine, they may still allow you, so definatley don't rule it out in your mind, until you have spoken to the consultant, in fact they may do as they did with me, and once they knew everything was ok, the 'signed me off' of their care and refered me back to normal midwifery care, in which case there should be no problem with a home delivery if conditions at the time allow.

Not wishing to be controversial, but they can't force you not to have a homebirth. Of course, if there's any risk of danger to the baby, it'd be a foolish decision to have the baby anywhere but hospital, but I'm assuming you wouldn't take that chance! I'm with Michelle07 on this one, they can be against homebirths just for the sake of it, rather than any actual risk.

I hope you get the outcome you want!

Em 26+4 x x x